The Privacy Question
When you ask AI a question, that information goes somewhere. Understanding where helps you make informed choices.
The good news: most reputable AI assistants are designed with privacy in mind. The level of privacy varies, so it's worth understanding your options.
How Ask Etta Handles Privacy
Ask Etta is designed with senior privacy as a priority:
• No account required: You don't give us your name, email, or any personal information
• No long-term storage: Your conversations aren't saved to a database linked to you
• No selling data: We don't sell your questions to advertisers or third parties
• Simple device ID: We track question limits with an anonymous device identifier, not your identity
This approach lets you ask questions freely without worrying about building a profile.
How Other AI Tools Compare
ChatGPT and similar services:
• Typically require an account (email)
• May use conversations to improve AI
• Offer privacy settings you can adjust
• Usually don't sell data but do store it
Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri):
• Linked to your account
• May record and store voice data
• Often have privacy settings available
• Connected to other services you use
Various free AI websites:
• Privacy practices vary widely
• Some may sell or share data
• Read privacy policies when possible
• When in doubt, stick to known services
What You Should and Shouldn't Share
Fine to share:
• General questions about any topic
• Recipe requests
• How-to questions
• Trivia and curiosity questions
• Technology help questions
Avoid sharing:
• Full name combined with identifying details
• Social Security number
• Bank or financial account numbers
• Detailed medical history
• Passwords or security questions
• Specific address or location
Even with good privacy practices, it's wise to keep sensitive personal details out of AI conversations.
Protecting Your Privacy
Simple steps to stay private:
• Use tools that don't require accounts when possible (like Ask Etta)
• Don't include unnecessary personal details in questions
• Be vague when specifics aren't needed: "a city in Texas" vs. your exact address
• Review privacy settings on tools that have accounts
• Clear browser history if you're on a shared computer
• Ask general questions: "What helps with knee pain?" vs. "I have [specific condition] and take [specific medications]..."